Flexible closure



2 shui-Shao?. 1

FLEXIBLE cLosunn FIed July 5, 1924 "f ik. m um BY E'. H. BINNs ET'AL sept. 15,1925.

E. H. BINNS ET AL FLEXIBLE cLosR Filqd .my s. 1924 2 sx-eeta-sneez 2 ula yDREY, a

Patented Sept. 15,l 1925.

UNITED' STATES Pai-ENT N o'Fl-l-ca.

EDWARD H. BINNS AND RALPH H. BINNS,

'WILLIAM A. DE HART, 0F '.lllilAllTIElCK,v NEW JERSEY; SAID DE HART ASSIGNOR QF HIS ENTIRE RIGHT T0 SAID-EDWARD H. IBINNS AND SAID RALPH H. BINNB.

Y FLEXIBLE cLosUaE.

Application med July v5,

To all wlwm z't may concer/L.'V

Be it known that we, EDWARD H. BINNs, citizen of the United States, and resident of Pittsburgh, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, RALPH H. BINNs, citizen of the lUnited States, and resident of lPittsburgh, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, and WiLLIAM A. DE HART, citizen of the United States, and resident of Teaneck, county of' Bergen, State of New Jerseyf, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Closures, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in the type of flexible closures illustrated in an a plication filed by the said Edward H. and alph H. Binns December 21st, 1923, Serial No. 682,022, in which there are two flexible strips or stringers carrying interlocking fastening devices and a slidin vcani device for movingsaid fastening devices into and out of interlocking engagement.

. The interlocking fastening devices of the present invention are similar to those of the above named application, in that each comprises a metal body formed with an unobstructed upper face, a narrow rounded neck and a forked hook projecting away from the 'unobstructed face. The improved interlocking fastening devices are made slicghtly longer than those in the above name application andare formed between their ends with controlling riding lugs finished upon both their. inner and outer edges to o crate in controlling grooves of the cam sli er. The slider consists of the spaced fore-plate 'and back-plate having the fastener receiving channelsbetween them. The fore-plate and the back-plate are each formed with inwardly presented grooves running parallel in the lower portion of the slider and diverging at the upper portion thereof, the inner surfaces of the center ribs of the fore-plate and back-plate between said controlling grooves serving as guide faces which engage .the side edges of the fastening` devices andy positively con-line them in their locking plane as they are moved into interlocking engagement. The diver inggrooves positively move'the hooks inwardly and out-- wardly and change their angular positions inlcausing the locking and unlocking, while the guiding center ribs between the grooves to move laterally 4lower end of the swivel 1924. serial 1ro. 724,355.

prevent any interference of the hook members with the slider, or with each other, so that accuracy of movement in the operation of the fastening members is assured. c

A further feature-of the` present invention consists 1n the novel arrangement of stops to limit the closing movement of the slider upon the series ofv interlocking fastening devices. These stops comprise elements secured upon the flexible strips'or strin ers at the'ifpper edges of the two series of asten1ng -dev1ces, serving to brace the up r fastening devices against accidental dii;- placement from the strainv applied to them, and .each stop having riding lugs similar to those upon the fastening devices which pass into .the controlling grooves of the sllder and 1n addition stop lugs which pass outs1de of the edge walls of the slider in posig' tion to engage butt lugs on thefore-plate or back-plate or both. By this arrangement of stops, the slider can be moved to the extreme upper limit of the series of fastening devices, so as to cause all of said devices to be interlocked, the locking and interlocking movements being positively effected by the controlling grooves so that it is unnecessary to leave the upper series of devices disengaged as in prior devices., e

The slider is provided with a swivel` plate pivoted on the center of upon its pivot into position above the slider. provided witha clutch engaging between its end and the lower end of the fore-plate, so that whe-n in -normal position upon the fore-plate it will be held against outward strain when a downward pullis exerted in the unlocking movement. Pivoted upon the plate is a latch plate which constitutes a pull member by which the slider is moved upwardly or downwardly upon the interlocklng devices. The latch plate is formedwith slde flanges that embrace the sides of the plate to hold the swivel plate against accidental lateral movement upon its pivot. The latch plate is further side walls at its upper vend that close y fit over the shaped ends of the slider= a.nd swivel plate and. extend across thezu'p'per ends of the roove's`of the slider to prevent downward dgisplacement the interlocking devices.

the binding post' The swivel plate is,

swivel plate and fore- Aor PITTSBURGH, rENNsYLvANIA, AND f provided with an ular of .the slider upon A spring snap setl projects through the bridge wall o f the slider in position to engage a recessun the end iange of the latch plate for holdingthe same in closed position. rlhe construction of the latch plate is such that it can also be closed upon the slidei at any intermediate position, in which case the angular side walls of the latch plate will pass between adjacent interlocking members of the stringer and effectively prevent the movement of the slider in either direction upon the *inter locking members.

In order that the invention may be fully understood it will first be described with ref erence to the accompanying drawings and afterwards more particularly pointed out in the annexed claims.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of the flexible closure embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a rear viewof'the same; I

Fi re 3 is a front view of the same showing t e latch plate in open downwardly projecting position; i l t' Figure 4 is asimilar view showing the swivel plate and latch plate shifted slightly to one side,and indicating in dotted lines said members shifted to their operative position above the slider;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken in the plane of the stringers on line 5-5 of Figure 7 showing the parts in closed position;

Figure 6' is a similar view with the closure parts in open position;

Figure"7 is a'detail side elevation of the device as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 8' is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the slider detached fiom the stringers;

Figure 9 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 3 showing one of the sto members upon a Stringer;

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 2;

` Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 11--11' of Figure 6;

. Figure 12 is a sectional view of the slider taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 8;

Figure 13 is an upper end view of the slider with the'latch plate omitted;

Figure 14 is va View similar to Figure 8 showing a slight modification;

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing a modification of the arrangement of stops;

Fi ure 16 is a View similar to Figure 5 showing a further modification of stops; and

Figure 17 is' a detail transverse sectional i view taken on the line 17-17 of Figure 16. 430J In constructing the flexible closure of the type to which the present invention relates, two fiexible strips or stringers, such as indicated at 1 and 2, are Aformed at' their inner ed es with beads or thickened portions 3 and '95 4 or the attachment of the interlocking fasi ,eea/ies tening devices. These flexible tapes or stringers with beaded inner edges may be formed iny any suitable way, but we prefer to form the bead or thickened edge by* centrally folding a wide tape back and forth upon itself in accordance with the invention set forth in the application of l/Villiam A.. De Hart, Serial No. 678,663, filed December 5th, 1923, for improvements in flexible closui-es.

v v Each of the stringere 1 and 2 is provided on its inner thickenededge with a series of fastening devices which are adapted to interengage for the purpose of locking together the two stringers. 'llhe interlocking fastening devices, all of which are of the same construction', are preferably made of sheet metal blanks with Ulshaped yokes 10 that embrace and are firmly'compressed upon the beaded or thickened edge of the flexible tapel or Stringer, a narrow neck 12 having a rounded upper face, and a bifurcated or forked hook 13 projecting unobstructed face of the fastening devices. Each fastening device is provided between its yoke 10 and forked hook-13 with lugs or shoulders 15 projecting oppositely from the body adjacent lto the narrow neckJand lo l cated when fastened upon the Stringer in alignment with the beaded edge of the stringer. The specific form of the preferred fastening devices is similar in general construction and operation tothose set forth in our above named application Serial No. 682,022,thei1proportions being slightly altered and the controlling lugs 15 being finished upon both their inner and outei edges to engage inner and outerk walls of the controlling grooves of the operating slider. rlhe fastening devices are mounted upon the stringers in suitable spaced relation so as to present the fastening devices alternately in `the two series to ermit them to alternately interlock within tiff controlling slider.

The operating cam slider is made up of a back-plate20 and a fore-plate 21 mounted in spaced relation upon a triangular cross-section, as shown particularly in Figures 5, 6, 12 and 16 of the drawings. The binder post 22 has reduced angularly suitable openings in the back-plate and foreplate for rigidly securing the lplates together adjacent vtheir upper end. of the back-plate and fore-plate arc further rigidly united by a bridge 23. The spaced relation between back-plate 20 and foreplate 21 provides 'the fastener receiving channels I ner faces of the back-platel and ,fore-plate (constituting the Walls of the slider channels) are formed with'controlling grooves 25 which run parallel to the lowerportion of each plate and diverge or `spread `apart to downwardly from'the upper e channeled and ygrooved binder post 22 -ofJ faced ends which are riveted in The upper endsL of the controlling slider. rThe inl 25 ing the parts in ydesired position when a each of these plate portions of the slider between the controllinggrooves constitutes a center rib 26, forming guide faces for the:

engagement and guid' ofthe side ron i of the forked hooksmlg'of the fasltening devices.v The slider channels are open at the side edges to permit thev passage of the fas.-` 'tening devices attached to the'stringers. l lo late v35 of the same general contour as the s ider. This swivel platefis adapted to move laterall upon its'pivot from a position. parallel wit the slider,'as shown in 'Fi vre 3, to a position extended above the slider, 4as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. When the swivel plate is in the position shown in Figure 3, it is held against outward strain away from the slider by means of an undercut lip 36, which engages the bevelled lower end 37 of the fore-plate 21 shown articularly in Figure'of the drawings. is means of engagement constitutes a clutch for vholddownward pulll is made upon the slider through the swivel plate. The clutch is so arranged that the( swivel plate is free to move upon its pivot from its normal positionv into its extended position above the slider. A slightl clutch engagement tween the swivel late and fore-platel is shown in Figure 14 o the drawings, in which an undercut lip 38 engages the bevelled lower edge 39 of the swivel plate.'4 This modification is a mere reversal of th'elelements of the clutch shown in Figuneff l Mounted upon the lower edge of the swivel o plate is a latch plate 40 connected' to the swivel plate by a hinge pin 40* which permits the latch plate to be moved from a position parallel with and against the swivel plate, /as shown in Figure 1, to a position extended im below the swivel plate, as shown in Figure 3. The latch plate40 is formed with side fianges 41, which closely embrace the edges of the swivel plate 35 and fore-plate 21 when in .the position shown in Figures 1 and 7 to o prevent lateral l movement of the swivel plate upon its pivot. The latch plate 40 1s also provided with the an lar anges 42 connected across the end by v ange .43, which are shaped to fit over the upper ends of the '55 back-plate," fore-plate and swivel plate, the

flanges 42 in this position extendingacross the upper outwardly flaring ends, of groove'd controlling channels 25 of the slider to preventthe passage in either direction of the 00 fastening devices and stop members (here-A inafter referred to). A'snap set 45 formed .-of asuitable bent 'piece'ofsp wire is mounted in a groove in the upper e ge ofthe ibinder post 22 with .its spring catch potlon projecting through a narrow slot 46 1n Pivoted at 30 upon a projecting stud of v I the binder post v22 is a swivel different form of this bridge of thais-lider.

431 and serves t'o retain the latch I in locking positionfup'on Athe slider. v

thelatchplate is moved from closed to open position..

The two series of interlocking fastening devices are secured together at the lower end by a coupling-50 shownin detail inF igiure' 11fof the drawings. This coupling embracesthe `interlocking forked hooks. at the lower end of the two series of'fasteningdevices-and prevents separation' of the closure at this int.A It will be understood that thel coup g 50 is made of a compressi-ble U shaped piece of'metal suitably recessed upon the inner faces of its arms to fit over and securely engage the last two pairs of interlocked fastening devices. The coupling 50 also serves as the lower. stop for limiting the downward or opening movement of the i slider upon the interlockin devices.

To limit the upward or c osing movement .of the slider upon the interlocking devices,

tact with the butt lug 58 formed integral- In the preferredl with said back-plate. In Figures 16 and 17 a slight modification of the stop members is shown in which a U-sliaped member 60 havin connected yokes is clamped upon the lbeade edge of the Stringer and formed 'with duplicate riding lugs 61 traveling in controlling grooves 25, and a stop lug 62 which is presented outside of the 'slider'in position to engage the buttlug 58 on back-plate 20.

`These stop members 57, or 62, orequivalents of them, are preferabl clamped upon the beaded edges of the strlngers 1 and 2 .at the upper end of each series of fastening members, so as to not only -act as stops but also to brace the rows of fastening devices upon 'the strin ers and' revent them from being accidentily forceci) out of place. The stop lugs upon the stop members may be presented upon both the inner and outer faces vof the stringers'toengage with butt stopsv upon botli the back-plate and fore-plate as shown in Fi re 15 of the drawings. 'Ihe relative position of the stops upon the strin ers and slider can be arranged toarrest me slider at the desired point upon the interlocked fastening devices. arrangement of stos ,itis possible to move the slider to a su cient extent 'upon the lWith this of all of said devices including the last member at the top of the series. This regrooves of the slider.

sult is possible becauseth@I control of the fastening devices in moving out of and into locking engagement is entirely by reason of the sliding engagement of the lugs of the fastening devices within the cont-rolling This control clearly distinguishes over similar vdevices. in the prior art in which the unlocking or separating action upon the fastening devices has been through the spreading action of the binder post, which necessitates leaving several of the upper fastening members slightly spread apart for the entry of theJ spreading member. The center ribs between the controlling grooves serve the important purpose of guiding the bifurcated hooks of the locked y position in fastening 'devices into their locking plane and by thus limitin' the interior spaces or channels of the sli er through which said hooks pass, prevent the interlocking members from becoming jammed, when the slider is moved over them to cause them to lock.` This guiding action is clearly shown in Figure 10 of the drawings., The upper edges of these center ribs or guide faces 26 bevelled slightly to facilitate the entry of the locking devices into the slider channels on the closin action of the slider'.

The improved c osure is shown in closed Figures 1 and 2 ofthe drawings, the engagement of the stop members upon the stringers with the butt lugs upon the slider limiting the upward movement of the slider, while the presence of the angular flanges 42 of the latch platel across the upper ends of channelsand grooves effectively prevents the accidental downward motion ofthe slider.- In opening the closure the latch plate 40 -is pulled forward upon its hinge into the position shown in Figure 3- and with said latch plate as a pull member the slider is pulled downwardly upon the interlocking devices for unlocking and separating them. The downward movement of the slider is arrested by en-` gagement with the coupling bottom sto 50. In this downward opening motion o the slider the swivel plate is held in close contact with the fore-plate of the` slider by the clutch 36, 37. When itis desired to effect the closing of the closure, the swivel plate 35 and latch 'plate 40 are moved from the osition shown in Figure 3 to the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4 and by an upward pull the `slider is caused to move to its upper position (or any intermediate position if and then the swivel plate and latch plate are returned to their normal positions with the latch plate held in closed position by the snap set.

yThe improved closure is not only of great only a partial closing is desired), V

value because ofy its effectiveness as a closure device and of its simplicity and accuracy of operation, but the structure lends neatness and attractiveness to the general appearance of this type of flexible closure.

We claim:

1. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination with flexible stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices formed with riding lugs or shoulders, of a channeled operating slider formed with controlling grooves engaging said riding lugs `or shoulders and positively controlling the movements of the fastening devices in both the interlocking and unlocking operations.

2. In a flexible closure or fastener, the

neled operating Aslider formed with controlling grooves engaging said riding lugs or shoulders and positively controlling the angular movements of the fastening devices in both the interlocking and unlocking operations, and a stop member secured to one of said stringers and formed with a riding lug adapted to enter a slider groove and a s'o) lug to e-ngage an exterior part of said s 1 er.

4. In a flexible closure or fastener, the

combination with flexible stringers carrying spaced. interlocking fastening devices,

and an operating slider operating upon and controllinof the movements of said fastening devices, of a stop lug upon at least one of said stringers, and an exterior butt lug upon said slider adapted to engage said stop lug.

5. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination with flexible stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices, and an operating slider operating upon and controlling the devices, of a Vcombined coupling and bottom stop embracing and securing the interlocked fastening devices at the end of the stringers in the path of the slider.

6. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination with exible stringers :carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices, and an operating slider operating upon and controlling the movements of said fastening devices,- of a U-shaped coupling member formed with recessed arms embracing and securing the interlocked fastening devices movements of said fastening, i

Luarca at the end ofthe stringers in the path of the slider and serving as a bottom stopfor the slider.

7. In a fiexible closure or fastener, the combination with fiexible stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices formed with oppositely extending riding lugs or shoulders, of a channeled operatmg'slider comprising two rigidl plates formed upon their inner faceswith cooperating grooves which engage thel riding lugs or shoulders of said fastening devices and positively control the movements of theusame in both the interlocking and unlocking operations.

8. In a flexible closurel or fastener, the combination with flexible stringers carryin spaced interlocking fastening devices forme with interengagin free ends and oppositely presented riding ugs or shoulders between their ends, of a channeled operating slider comprising two rigidly attached spaced plates formed upontheir inner faces with cooperating grooves which engage the .riding lugs or shoulders of said fastemng devices and positively control the movements of the same in both the interlocking and unlocking operations. p c

9. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination with iiexible stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices formed with oppositely presented riding lugs or shoulders, of a channeled o erating slider comprising two rigidly attac ed plates, and a spacing binder post, said plates. being formed with cooperating'internal grooves' which engage said riding lugs or shoulders and positively control the movements of said c fastening devices in both the interlocking and unlocking o rations independently of said' acing bin er post.

* 10. n a fiexible closure 4or fastener, the

l combination with exible stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices formed with oppositely.l presented riding lugs or shoulders, of a 'channeled operating slider comprising two rigidly attached plates, and a spacing inder post, said binder post having reduced angularly faced ends fitting and expanded' in corresponding shaped openings in said plates, and saidnlates being formed with coogeratinginterna gage sai riding lugs or shoulders and positively control the movements of said fastening devices in both the interlocking and unlocking operations independently of said spacing binder st.

11. In a ilexib e closure or fastener, the Vcombination with exible stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices forme with interlocking ends and riding lu shoulders, of a channeled operatlng s 'der comprisin 4two ri "dly attached spaced plates, eac plate being formed upon 1ts inner face wit controlling grooves to engage attached spaced l movable laterally grooves which enorA said riding lugs or shoulders, and a an surface between said grooves toengage guide said interlocking ends.

12. In aA exible closure or fastener, thef combination with flexible stringere carryin spaced interlocking fastening devices form with interlocking hooks upon their free ends and riding lugs or shoulders between their ends, of achanneled operating slider comprising two rigidly attached Aspaced plates, each plate being formed upon lts inner face with controlling grooves to enga said riding lugs or shoulders, and a i 'ng center rib to engage and guide sai interlocking hooks. v

13. In a iiexible closure or fastener, the

combination with iiexible stringers carryingv spaced interlocki fastening devices formed with interlocking ooks upon their free ends and riding lugs or shoulders between their ends, of a channeled operating slider comprising two rigidly attached spaced plates formed u on their inner faces with upwardly diverglng controlling grooves to engage said ridlng lugs' or shoulders, and an up- 4wardly expanding` guiding center rib to ,en-

gage and guide said interlocking hooks.

14. In a flexible closure orifastener, the 1 `combination with flexible stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastenlng devices having interlocking ends and riding lugs or shoulders between their ends,of a channeled operating slider formed of rigidly attached spaced plates having grooves cut in their inner faces and receiving said riding lugs or shoulders to positively control the movements of the fastening devices in both unlocking and interlocking operations.

15. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination with iiexible strin ers carrying spaced interlocking fastening evices, of an operating slider engaging and controlling said fastening devices, and a swivel plate mounted upon said slider upon a pivot perpendicular to the face of said slider and upon its lpivot to extend either above or below its pivot upon the slider. A A

16. In a iiexible closure or fastener, the combination with iiexible strin ers carrying spaced interlocking fastening evices, of an operating slider engaging and controlling said fastening devices, a swivel plate pivoted upon said-slider and-movable laterally uon its pivot parallel'with the face of said sllder to extend eitherV above or below its los pivot u n the slider, and means for securplate against movement upon ias movable laterally upon its pivot to extend either above or below "its pivot upon the slider, and a clutch connecting the free end of said swivel plate with the end of the slider furthest away from said pivot.

18. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination with flexible stringers carrying `spaced interlocking fastening devices, of an operat-ing slider engaging and controllmg said fastening devices, a swivel plate pivoted upon said sliderv adjacent to one end and movable laterally upon its pivot to extend either above or below its pivot upon the slider, a clutch connecting the free end of said swivel plate with the end of the slider furthest away from said pivot to prevent if outward strain upon said swivel plate, and

means for securing said swivel plate against lateral movement upon its pivot.

19. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination with flexible stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices, ofan operating slider engaging and cont-rolling saidfastening devices, a swivel plate pivoted upon said slider and movable laterally upon its pivot to extend either above or below its pivot upon the slider, and a clutch between said swivel plate and slider consisting of anv undercut lip upon one of said members and a bevelled' tongue upon the other of said members.

20. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination with flexibley stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices, of an operating slider engaging and controlling said fastening devices, a sw1vel plate pivoted upon said slider andmovable laterally upon its pivot to extend either above or below its pivot upon the slider, and a latch plate hin ed to said swivel plate and engaging s ai slider for holding the swivel plate against accidental displacement.

21. In a flexible closure orfastener, the

\ combination with flexible stringers carrying spaced interlocking, fastening devices, of. an

operating slider arranged to control said fastening devices, a swivel plate pivoted upon said slider and movable laterally upon its pivo-t to extend either above or below its pivot upon the slider, and a latch plate hinged to said swivel plate and formed with side flanges adapted to embrace the swivel plate and slider when the latch plate is fold' ed over upon the same.

22. In a flexible closure or fastener,A the combination with flexible stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices, of an operating slider controlling/said fastening devices, and two folding members hinged together and having swivel connection with A said slider.

l23. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination with flexible stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices, of an Ioperating slider engaging and controlling said fastening devices, a swivel plate pivoted upon said slider and movable laterally upon its pivot to extend'either above or below its' 'lll the slider furthest away from said pivot, and

a latch plate hinged to said swivel plate and engaging said slider for holding the parts in locked position.

24. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination with exible stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices, of an operating slider engaging and controlling said fastening devices, a swivel plate pivoted upon said slider adjacent to one end and movable laterally upon its pivot to extend either above or below its pivot upon the slider, a clutch connecting the free end of said swivel plate with the end of the slider furthest away from said pivot, and a latch plate hinged to the lower end of said swivel plate and formed with side flanges adapted to embrace the swivel plate and slider when the latch plate is folded over upon the same.

25. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination with flexible stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices, of an. operating slider engaging and controlling said fastening devices, and a latch plate connected to said slider and formed with anges adapted to fit over the end of the slider and extend across the slider channels to prevent l.

. ends of the slider and .close the open ends of its channels, and a snap set carried by the A slider in position to engage andI hold the latch plate in closed position.

27. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination with flexible stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices, of an interiorly channeled operating slider mounted u on said fastening devices, a slider controlling latch plate movablyf mounted upon the slider, a snap set upon the slider engaging the latch plate, and a thumb tip upon the latch plate. y

28. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination with flexible stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices, of an interiorly channeled operating slider mounted upon said cfastening devices, a latch plate connected with the slider and formed with vflanges arranged to embrace the ends of the 29. In a flexible closure or fastener, the

combinationjwith fiexible ,stringers carrying with a spring receiving groove, a spring A l snap set mounted in the groove f said binder post, and a slider controllinglatch plate movably mounted upon the slider and engaged by said snap set.

- 30. Inr a flexible, closure or fastener,'tlie combination with flexible stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices, of an operating slider comprising two rigidly attached 'spaced plates, a spacing binder post securing said plates vand formed with a spring receiving groove, a' bridge plate connecting said spaced plates at one end, said bridge plate having a snap receiving slot, a spring snap set mounted in the groove of said binder post and projecting through the slot of said bridge plate, and a\slider controllin latch plate movably vmounted 'upon the sli er and engagedJ by said snap set.

l31'. In a''exible Aclosure or fastener, the

combination with xible stringers carrying spaced interlocking fastening devices, a controlling grooved slider operating upon said lfastening devices, a stop member secured to at least one of said iexible stringers at the upper end of a series of fastening devices, said stop member being-formed with riding lugs which ride in the slider grooves and a sto lug which isjpresented exteriorly of the sli er, and'a buttllug or shoulder rojecting external] 1 from the slider inv positlon to engage saiv stop lu 1 32. In a exibIe closure, or fastener, ythe f combination with flexible stringers carrying' spaced interlockin fastening devices', a con-l vtrolling grooved s ider operating upon. said fastening devices and provided with external butt lugs, and stop memberssecuredto' i said flexible stringers and formed with"rid` ing lugs operating in the slider grooves and stop 1u s which are presented exteriorly of said sli er and engage said butt lugs.

l EDWARD H.B1NNs`.

RALPH H. Bruns.n WILLIAM A. DE HART. 

